In 1878, Caldicott began to achieve success with a series of
glees based on nursery rhymes. "
Humpty Dumpty", the first of these, was awarded a special prize in a competition instituted by the Manchester Glee Society in the year of his graduation. It was followed by another work that year, "
Jack and Jill", and in 1879 by "
Little Jack Horner". Later pieces in the same humorous vein included "
This Is the House That Jack Built" (1880),
"The Spider and the Fly", "The Boy and the Bee", "Poor Little Tomee!" and "Where are you going to my pretty maid?"
The Dictionary of National Biography later noted that “the special novelty he brought forward was the humorous admixture of childish words and very complicated music…He set these nursery rhymes in the most elaborately scientific style, with full use of contrast and the opportunities afforded by individual words”. In 1879 Caldicott's serious glee "Winter Days" had won the prize offered by the Huddersfield Glee and Madrigal Union. In the wake of his popularity, both in Britain and abroad, he was now commissioned to compose an oratorio for the
Worcester festival. He chose the story of the
Widow of Nain as subject, writing both libretto and music himself, and on 12 September 1881 realised his boyhood dream by conducting his oratorio in the cathedral. In 1882 Caldicott left Worcester for
Torquay, but a few months later settled in London. He then began to compose operettas for
Thomas German Reed performed at
St. George's Hall, London, the first being
Treasure Trove, performed in 1883. Reed produced twelve others, including
A Moss Rose Rent, 1883;
Old Knockles, 1884; ''In Cupid's Court
, 1885; A United Pair
, 1886; The Bosun's Mate
, 1888; The Friar
; Wanted an Heir
; In Possession
; Brittany Folk
; Tally Ho!'' (1890). When
the Albert Palace in Battersea Park was opened with ambitious intentions a full orchestra was engaged, and Caldicott was appointed conductor. He composed a dedication ode for the opening on 6 June 1885, but very soon resigned. He afterwards conducted at the
Prince of Wales's Theatre, where two operettas,
All Abroad and
John Smith, commissioned by
Carl Rosa, were performed in 1889–90. He went to the United States in 1890 as conductor to
Agnes Huntingdon's light opera company. After his return to England he was appointed a professor at the
Royal College of Music and the
Guildhall School of Music. In 1892 he resigned these posts on being appointed principal of a private teaching establishment styled the
London College of Music. He also became conductor at the
Comedy Theatre in 1893. Incessant work overtaxed his strength, and in 1896
cerebral exhaustion gradually developed. His last composition was a
part song, "The Angel Sowers", composed for
J. S. Curwen's
Choral Handbook (1885). He died at
Barnwood House Hospital, near
Gloucester, on 24 October 1897. But in the year following his death, Caldicott's continuing reputation ensured that his glee, then titled "Little Jacky Horner", had the distinction of being performed as part of the series of what were then known as
Mr Robert Newman’s Promenade Concerts in the Queen’s Hall. ==Personal life==